Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral: An eyesore or a hidden treasure?

A couple of months back, I and a colleague were visiting Liverpool searching for Beatlemania.. The first evening was a major disappointed – the city seemed to be dominated by dance music instead of the live music we were looking for. So, next morning, when we strode out to tour the city, we had our hopes and expectations low..

But when we stumbled across the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, the expectations certainly hit rock bottom! It looked awful, to be honest – unlike any of the majestic cathedrals I had seen before in England. It seems that ‘modern abstract’ architecture maybe just too modern and abstract for my taste.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, from outside

 However, I had read on internet that it has some secret underground crypt, which got me really curious. So, I decided to not shun it on its outer appearance and went inside.

And what a surprise I had! Inside, it was glowing with different coloured gothic glasses in its ceiling. It has a circular hall, which am sure, was built keeping acoustics in mind. In fact, an old man was playing a piano there – and to our surprise/shock, he seems to be playing more psychedelic-ish music than typical choir tunes! The place had an out-of-the-world feeling to it! A feeling of mystery, a feeling of exhiliration!

Inside the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Glass windows in the celiling of the cathedral.

We proceeded towards the crypt – the underground crypt – expecting a grotto with owtgrown vines and the smell of soil – but it was well, just another underground floor which was made of brick walls (oh, by the way, did I mention, this crypt and the foundations of this cathedral were designed by Lutyens – yes, the same guy who designed Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate in Delhi!) and seemed to have a slightly ancient feeling. It did provide for some interesting photos, even though it didn’t have the feeling of mystery I was expecting..

Underground crypt at the cathedral

At the crypt under the cathedral

 What do you think? Is the cathedral an eyesore or a hidden treasure?